Brain Damage Caused By ECT

Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, “works” by creating an intense seizure or convulsion in the patient. This assault on the brain causes a temporary coma and flat-lining of brain waves, which is a sign of impending brain death.

After several (or only one) of these treatments, the patient experiences headaches, nausea, loss of memory, disorientation and emotional instability, and other symptoms. These are typical signs of the severe head trauma and injury that electroconvulsive therapy causes.

Lasting Brain Damage

Psychiatrist Peter Breggin states in no uncertain terms that, “The purpose of ECT is to cause an intense seizure or convulsion. The process always damages the brain and causes mental dysfunction.”

The “proof” (according to psychiatry) that ECT works is the discovery of new cell growth in the brain after ECT treatment. According to Dr. Breggin, this does nothing but confirm that brain injury has occurred. This cell growth is known as neurogenesis and is something also seen in Traumatic Brain Injury.

There have even been animal experiments proving that ECT causes cell death and hemorrhages throughout the brain.

But even without experiments and clinical trials, common sense and concern for one’s fellow man (and woman) should be enough to end this psychiatric torture.

American Psychiatrists Sold on Brain Damage as Mental Therapy

ECT was first introduced to America in a 1941 paper by Dr. Walter Freeman entitled Brain-Damaging Therapeutics. In it he states “The greater the damage, the more likely the remission of psychotic symptoms . . . Maybe it will be shown that a mentally ill patient can think more clearly and more constructively with less brain in operation.”

One of his peers, United States psychiatrist Dr. J Stainbrook, concurs with Freeman’s nonsense, taking it a step further. In 1942 Stainbrook wrote: “[It] may be true that these people have . . . more intelligence than they can handle and that the reduction in intelligence is an important factor in the curative process . . . Some of the best cures one gets are in those individuals who one reduces almost to amentia.” (amentia definition: lack of intellectual development; imbecility; severe mental retardation)

Apparently a docile, manageable (if completely apathetic) patient is the desired result. In this case, one must concur that ECT is a roaring success.

Psychiatrists Mistake Brain Damage “Euphoria” for a Cure

A seizure can cause a surge of “well-being” neurotransmitters and hormones, writes Dr. Michael Corry, psychiatrist, in The Irish Times. It is this physical reaction that can temporarily mask mental disorders immediately after the administration of ECT.

This euphoria is seen after any head injury or physical trauma. It has even been observed after prolonged labor.

Psychiatrists, chronically unable to apply the Scientific Method, see this euphoria as a psychiatric “cure”. This skewed reasoning encourages them to administer ECT on a continuing basis, especially in elderly patients.

Medical doctors have long agreed that seizures are damaging to the brain, and every effort is directed towards preventing them. The only “doctor” who administers and deliberately causes seizures in patients is the psychiatrist.

Why Psychiatrists Continue to Administer ECT

Although psychiatric whistle blowers do exist, there are still close to 100,000 people a year who receive ECT treatment, mostly in psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units.

Since so many have been damaged by ECT, the profession of psychiatry is loathe to admit their failure with this barbaric “treatment”. After all, admission of damage through ECT could leave them open to extensive litigation.

The Irish Times writer Dr. Corry states psychiatry’s dilemma clearly:

“The magnitude of their error is too great and the consequences so enormous and far-reaching that most find it impossible to admit they may be wrong.”

It is up to the citizens of our country and the world to bring psychiatrists to justice, and to prevent the continuing damage they inflict on men, women and even children.

Comments

Juli A Scoggins

I had it done and my life has been HELL ever since THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THERE ARE WHY MANY MORE OF US THAT THEY HAVE DONE THIS TO BUT ARE NOT TELLING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT’S THEIR NEW TOY TO PLAY WITH ON PEOPLE !!!!
PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT HAS NO ONE TO STAND UP FOR THEM JUST GET PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY
AND TREATED EVEN WORSE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE THE TREATMENT HAS DONE TO US

Electroshocked Mohawk

I’m about to turn 22, and I had 14 ECT “treatments” about two years ago. I have conscious memory of one of my treatments, despite being both under the effects of anesthetic and a muscle relaxer. I remember seeing a lot of bright light, like every moment I’d ever lived was repeating all at once, and every single literal possible connection in my head was exploding. My body wanted to show that the person living inside was dying, that it needed help, but there was a revolting limpness inside my cells. Instead I was trapped in that disgusting rhythmic jerk, unable to communicate that I could neither dissociate, pass out, not save myself. I couldn’t see, but I was aware of all the people standing around, holding rubber on my mouth, watching the person I was born to be die on that bed with detatched indifference.

I couldn’t explain what had happened afterwards. I didn’t have the vocabulary to describe the experience. I woke up asking the nurses about the “lightening,” and they told me I had a dream. There was too much fog in my head for me to argue.

I never felt the same after that.

Whoever I am now… It’s not the same person I was before the procedure. That person feels dead. I’m just the leftovers.

There’s this permanent feeling of static in my head. Like someone packed my skull with cotton. It gets better or worse at times, but never fully leaves. It’s hard to think a lot of the time… hard to talk. I have weird shakes and twitches and random muscle movements happening across my body and face most times. I freeze and don’t know it’s happened after. I have continual flashbacks and just feel so confused all the time. I feel like I’m trapped alone inside a ship with bad controls. I’m scared it’s going to be like this for the rest of my natural life.

April Day

I had 79 ect’s and my brain is fried. They just kept going every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! I didn’t even know my name when it was over….. didn’t even remember that I had quit smoking 4 months prior and started back while in the hospital for extended stay. Had no one overseeing my treatment. I feel so angry that I actually did get the ECT! The hospital had me watch a video that said that it was safe and that memory loss would only be temporary and around the time of treatment! I lost my college education as a result! During one treatment, the anesthesiologist put the medicine in wrong! He put the paralytic drug in first! I felt like I was drowning and couldn’t breathe! I still have nightmares about this quite often….. I tried to tell the doctor that after the treatment and before this he said that I was very active during this treatment or something to that effect! I told him what happened and he didn’t want to accept responsibility for this. If I had an overseer, I would have sued them for my trauma! I had bilateral ECT treatment s. Feel really angry and like I am damaged emotionally and physically damaged as well. The college that I attempted to go to after treatment told me that I had a traumatic brain injury after taking the entrance tests to continue my education. I apologize for the rambling but I hope that this will discourage someone who is considering ECT. It is definitely brain damage!!!!!

Roxie

Close to a complete nervous breakdown, I agreed to ECT treatments – however, they had me so drugged – I have no recall of giving permission. My partner and I both knew I needed help since I was in a deep depression and worst was the anxiety. I was living – I was existing. To make a long story short – in May after 9 treatments later we were on our own. Had a very welcome respite for July, August and part of Sept. I really was ecstatic – but I did some ridiculous things – like shopping and not remembering it. Took me 2 months to straighten out my finances. Now – my memory is so bad – I’ve done “brain games” for years through Lumosity – and the change in my scores – for all categories have now reached an all time low. This has become so frustrating since if there was one good thing – I had an excellent memory and knowledge. Now I look in the mirror and don’t know who I am anymore. I used to laugh a lot and cry a lot (mostly in empathy for others) and now I am FLAT. I can tell people that I love them – but I don’t have the “feeling” anymore. Am I doomed to live out my life like this? Have any of you come back – months after? I don’t want to accept this! Thank you! And Best wishes to all.

CCHR

Molly Williams

I had more than the norm of ECT treatments at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem I asked them to do that for some STUPID reason and I think they were just into it for the money. My dad consented to the ECT treatments bc he did not know any better. I also was in 2 comas from suicide attempts for 3 or 4 days and 9 days. I have been called stupid forever but may have been damaged previously by my own wrong wiring from family and drugs or biochemical make up.I have A BA degree and Med in counseling but was too anxious to do the job.Stayed in bed for damn 30 years and could not or wuold not get up many many hospitalizations and mental torment that I do to myself I cannot think right and I can sure tell it have not worked since 1989

Wendy Spence

I had 6 ECT treatments on the last one I came to and knew immediately it was bad. I was disoriented, confused and couldn’t pass a cognitive test. I couldn’t remember how to use it phone or unlock the door. I couldn’t walk on my own or carry anything, iwas trembling and seeing bright lights. I had to have one on one care for two weeks. The whole experience was scary and traumatic.
Never again and I’m still depressed..

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CCHR Florida

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida is a non-profit watchdog organization that investigates and exposes psychiatric abuse and educates the public about their rights in the field of mental health.

CCHR Florida provides only facts and does not provide medical or legal advice.

Our office recommends that an individual seek a competent medical examination by a non-psychiatric medical professional.